Vending machines



Oct. 29, 1957 J. H. BARKER ETAL VENDING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1953 INVENTORS Jack H. Barker By Joe B. Barker ATTORNEYS H. BARKER ETAL 2,811,403

VENDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Jack H. Barker By Joe B Barker ATTORNEYS IIIIIIIIIQIIIII:

Oct. 29, 1957 Filed June 18, 1953 m a s 2v, m w 1: m n m L m 53 n W. Z m M C l1 I W N |l:1|.i| I. I 1 2 W w MW .i w 1 w m Oct- 29, 1 J. H.-BARKER ErAL 2,811,403

VENDING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HO VLT.

f0? W' /02 EMPTY LIGHT c/77 I DOOR LIGHTS a e/125 T Con.

'75- RESET SPRING STEPPER I 619 v I if SOLENOID g STEPPING RELAY 6'6 z MICRO SERVICE DooR Smsuoms INVENTORS JJc/r'H. Barker y Joe B. Barker ATTORNEYS United States Patent a 2,811,403 VENDING MACHINES Jack H. Barker and Joe B. liarker, Denison, Tex. Application June 18, 1953, Serial No. 362,53 3 Claims. (c1. 312 97.1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vending machines. I

One object of the invention to provide an Improved vending machine of such construction as to be particularly adapted for dispensing bulky articles having relatively fragile containers, such as beverages in paper cartons, without jostling and damaging the container and causing leakage of the contents thereof.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine having an upright rotatable carriage for supporting articles circumferentially thereof in alinement with an access or delivery opening having a closure, together with means for controlling the opening of the closure and for imparting intermittent rotation to the carriage to consecutively move the articles into registration with the access opening whereby the registe'ring article may be readily removed and said articles are dispensed in sequential order. h

Ah important object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine, of the character described, wherein the articles are supported superimposed rows and each row has an access opening and closure, the

control means being arranged to lock the closiires against opening and to unlock and permit opening of one of said closures upon and during each complete revolution of the carriage whereby access had to only one article upon each actuation of the vending machine.

Another object of the invention is to pto'v'iqeaa improved vending machine, of the ':charac ter descri ed, wherein the arrangement of the control ni'eans such that the closures are unlocked inconsecutive order upon successive complete revolutions of thecarriage and are r'eloeked upon completion of a full revolution that only one closure may be opened duringeach revolution.

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved vending machine, of the character described, havingmeans associated with and actuated by the control means for positively locking the carriage against rotation so as to prevent said carriage from being turned byertternally applied force andacces s to more than one article upon each actuation, the locking means being momentarily released upon each actuation to permit a predetermined rotation of said carriage;

A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machinehaving an access opening and a closure therefor in the form of a sliding door which is self-closing by means of a pivoted the inner edge portion of the door, together with means actuated by operation of the vending machine for, latching said door against opening movement and being released during a predetermined operation of said machine.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be morereadily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference roller bearing against v 12. The carriage 18 is preferably inthe fortnof an o n- 2 to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of theinvention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the article-supporting magazines,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view of the vending machine,

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, crosssectional View, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the motor cut-01f switch.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, elevational view, partly in section and taken from the inside, 'of one of the sliding doors, its closing and latch means, 7

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken an the line 7* 7 of Fig. 6, I

Fig. 8 is a transverse, vertical; sectional view; taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, perspective view of the means for locking the carriage against rotation, and

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram of the control means for the machine.

In the drawings, the nnmeral '10 dsigfiatesth'irright casing or housing of a vending machine ha suitably insulated top, bottom and side walls 11, and

sliding closures or service doors 17, as be i after explained. The housingls adapted to .be re'fr atefcl in any suitable. mannerby conventional means which not illustrated. For supporting arranges-e ve a. substantially cylindrical carriage or reel 18 is mounted on an axial, upright, rotatable "shaft 9 having its ends joinnaled in bearings 20 at thetop and bottom walls 1 work frame which includes a sets of radial arms to the shaft 19 by vertically=spaced collars 22 and 1115- right, reinforcing bars 23 connecting their outer ends. Annular, peripheral frame members or bars 24am 25 encircle and are connected to the outer ends of certain of the arms 21, preferably the upper and lowersetsof arms as shown in Fig. 4. t s

P The annular frame members are adapted to an annular, concentric, article receiving magaiin'e. 26 which is preferably made in upright-,transversely a etiate sections 27 of a length substantially equal to, the length of the opening 16 and having a plurality of individual compartments 28 arranged in transverse and right rows. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, each magazine section 27 includes an upright, arcuate back wall 29 and upright and transverse partitions 30 and 31, the outermost partitions forming the outer m'ar gins. or walls of the section. Each compartment 28 is adapted to receive an article to be vended, such as milk,,in;a paper carton or other beverageor biilky commodity, a fragile container, and has anopening 32 in its baek wall for circulating refrigerated air. A piiiralityofhoolgs 33 are carried by the inner surface of the baek wall 29 of each section for engaging the annular framememb'e'rs 24 and 25 so as to removably support the sectionupon the carriage 18. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, theouter, upright partitions or walls 30 of adjacent sections are adapted to abut or be disposed in close proximity to'form the annular, concentric magazine 26 with the comp-artplurality of superinip ed sections are supported upon the carriage. Due to the 21 having their innei endsconne ed sectional construction of the magazine, the same may be readily removed for cleaning and maintenance of the machine.

For imparting intermittent rotation to the carriage 18, an electric motor 34 is mounted in the lower portion of the housing and has its shaft 35 drivingly connected to a speed reducer 36 which is shown as being of the rightangular type. A drive shaft 37 projects upwardly from the speed reducer and carries a small sprocket 38 on its upper end for meshing with an endless chain 39 drivingly engaged with a large sprocket 40 mounted on the lower portion of the shaft 19 below the carriage. Due to the speed reducer 36 and the relative diameters of the sprockets 38 and 40, the carriage is revolved at a comparatively slow rate of speed. For stopping the motor so that it willimpart intermittent or step-by-step rotation to the carriage, a motor control relay 41 is provided and includes a notched disk or star wheel 42 mounted on the drive shaft 37 between the speed reducer and the sprocket 38 (Fig. 5). As will be explained hereinafter, the relay 41 forms a part of the control means for the vending machine and its motor. A predetermined number of notches or indentations 43 are formed in the periphery of the disk 42 for coacting engagement with a normally closed micro-switch 44 electrically connected to the motor as shown in Fig. 10, whereby the electrical current to said motor is broken and operation thereof stopped whenever the micro-switch is contacted by one of the notches. As

shown, the normal coasting of the motor 34 continues to rotate the disk and moves its notch past the microswitch after actuation to permit reclosing of said micro-switch for the next operation of the machine. It is noted that the number of notches is subject to variation in accordance with the ratio of the diameters of the sprockets 38 and 40 and the desired degree of rotation of the carriage.

' One of the upright rows of the magazine compartments 28 is adapted to be moved into registration with the opening 16 of the door upon each intermittent operation of the motor, and said upright rows register consecutively with said opening upon successive intermittent operations. One of the sliding closures or service doors 17 is provided for each transverse row of compartments and each closure is mounted by grooved rollers or wheels 45 upon substantially, horizontal upper and lower tracks 46 extending transversely of the opening in overlying relation to the inner surface of the door 16 (Figs. 6 and 8). The tracks project inwardly or to the left beyond the opening and the ends of said tracks are connected by upright stop members or bars 47. Preferably, a bumper or sealing strip 48 is carried by the outer or right-hand stop bar for engagement by the corresponding upright edge portion of the closure. Each closure is closed and held closed by novel means which includes a roller 49 rotatably mounted on the upper end of an arm or lever 50 having its lower end pivotally supported immediately above the lower track 46 of said closure. A'hinge 51 may be provided for pivotally connecting the lever to the inner or left-hand stop bar 47, and a channel or track 52 may be provided on the corresponding upright edge portion of the closure for receiving and coacti'ng with the roller (Fig. 7). It is noted that the relative dimensions of the closure and its tracks are such that opening movement of said closure is limited by the roller 49 striking the inner stop bar 47 and that the lever 50 is not swung inwardly past its center, whereby said roller constantly bears against the channel 52, and the weight of said lever constantly urges said closure toward its closed position. As a result, the closure is held closed until manually opened by transverse sliding movement.

A latch or keeper bar 53 projects transversely from the outer margin of each closure for coaction with a solenoid 54 having its plunger 55 normally projecting into engagement with a notch 56 in the outer end portion of the keeper bar. Upon energization of the solenoid, its plunger is retracted and disengaged from the notch 4 of the keeper bar to permit opening of the closure. As will be explained, only one of the solenoids S4 is energized at a time so that only one of the closures may be opened and the other closures remain latched by engagement of the solenoid plungers With the keeper bars. Also, each solenoid remains energized until the carriage 18 7 makes a complete revolution so that the magazine compartments 28 alined with the closure of the energized solenoid may be emptied. The end of the plunger 55 and the notch 56 are bevelled toward the inner edge portion of the closure so as to be reengaged upon deenergizing of the solenoid projecting its plunger and final closing movement of said closure.

For positively locking the carriage against rotation to prevent turning by external force applied through the opening 16, a locking device 57 is provided and includes a bar 58 and coacting keepers 59 (Fig. 9). Preferably, the keepers are in the form of a plurality of equally spaced notches or indentations in a concentric member mounted on the carriage, such as the lower, peripheral frame member 25. The locking bar is adapted to engage the keeper notches 59 and may be pivoted intermediate its ends on a substantially horizontal pin 60 mounted on an upright support 61 below said carriage so as to extend radially thereof with its outer end in coacting relation to said notches. A solenoid 62 is mounted on the support, preferably uprightly, and has its normally projecting plunger 63 loosely connected to a substantially horizontal, slotted plate 64 secured to the inner end of the pivoted locking bar 58. Upon energization of the solenoid 62, its plunger 63 is retracted so as to pivot the locking bar clockwise to disengage the outer end of said bar from the keeper notches and permit rotation of the carriage. The pivotal mounting and weight of the bar is arranged to move said barv in the opposite or counter-clockwise direction to reengage its outer end with one of the keeper notches and lock the carriage against rotation upon de-energization of the solenoid and projection of its plunger. At least, one keeper notch is provided for each magazine compartment 28 of one of the transverse or circumferential rows whereby one upright row of compartments registers with the opening 16 when the carriage is lockedagainst rotation.

For controlling the actuation of the latch solenoids 54, a stepping relay 65 is provided and includes a normallyopen micro-switch 66 mounted adjacent the carriage 18, preferably therebelow on an upright support 67 (Figs. 3 and 4). A projection 68, shown in the form of an angular arm or lug, depends from the lower frame member 25 for contacting and momentarily actuating the microswitch upon each complete revolution of the carriage. As shown in Fig. 10, the stepping relay includes a solenoid 69 electrically connected to and energized by the microswitch 66 and having a pawl 70 on its armature 71 for driving a ratchet wheel 72. A shaft 73, as shown by broken lines, is connected to the ratchet wheel for driving a rotating contact finger 74 relative to contact points 75, which are numbered consecutively 1 through 5. Contact points 1 through 4 are electrically connected to the solenoids 54, consecutively numbered A through D, while a latch or empty relay 76 is electrically connected to the contact point 5. Due to this arrangement, each solenoid is energized to unlatch its closure 17 only when its contact point is engaged by the contact finger and said solenoid remains energized and its closure unlatched until said finger is rotated into contact with the adjacent clockwise point. Of course, a complete revolution of the carriage is required to move the projection 68 into fronrthe top to" the bottom'of the vending machine whereby solenoid A coacts with the keeperbar'53 of the upper most closure. I

Necessarily, the control means for the vending machine is electrically connected to the coin control mechanism 15 which is more or less conventional and the details of which arenotillustrated. In addition to the motor control r'elay' 41, the control means includes tlie'solenoids 54, the locking device 57, the stepping relay 65 and the latch relay 76. As shown in the wiring diagram, electrical current is supplied from a suitable source by lead wires 77 and 78 with the wire 77 being connected directly to one side of the motor 34 and the wire 78 being connected to a terminal strip 79. Wires 80 and 81 connect the wire 78 to one pole of a normally-open switch 82 of the relay 41, the wire 81 extending between the switch pole and the cont-act finger 74 of the steppingrelay, and the other pole of the switch is connected by a wire 83 to the other side of the motor. The micro-switch 44 of the relay 41 is connected by a wire 84 to the wire 78 and by a wire 85 to one pole of another normally-open switch-86 of the relay 41. Wires 87 connect the solenoid 62 of the lock-ing device 57 to the wires 77 and 81 in parallel relation to the motor. A wire 88 extends between the wire 78 and the solenoid 69 of said relay and a wire 89, having the micro-switch 66 of the stepping relay connected therein, leads from said solenoid to a wire 90.

The relay 41 has its solenoid 91 connected to the wire 90, which also is connected to the solenoid 54' and latch relay 76. A wire 92 connects the solenoid 91 and the other pole of the switch 86 to the terminal strip 79. The solenoid 91 includes an armature 93, having contacts 94 and 95, adapted to actuate upon energization of the solenoid 91 to move the contacts into closing engagement with the poles of the switches 82 and 86 whereby the Wire 81 is connected to the wire 83 and wire 85 to the wire 90. The latch relay 76 includes a switch 96 having one pole connected to the wire 90 and its other pole to the lead wire 78 through a Wire 97, with its pivoted lever connected to the wire 77 and engageable with either pole. A latch 98 holds the switch lever in contact with the pole of the wire 90 and is actuated by a solenoid 99 connected to the contact point of the stepping relay by a wire 100. For resetting the contact finger 74, a solenoid 101 is connected to the wire 88 and by a push-button switch 102 to the wire 90. The latch relay 76 includes a switch 96 having one pole connected to the wire 90 and its other pole to the lead wire 78 through a wire 97, with its pivoted lever connected to the wire 77 and engageable with either pole. A latch 98 holds the switch lever in contact with the pole of the wire 90 and is actuated by a solenoid 99 connected to the contact point 5 of the stepping relay by a wire 100. For resetting the contact finger 74, a solenoid 101 is connected to the wire 88 and by a push-button switch 102 to the wire 90. An empty light 103 is connected in the wire 96 and an indicating light 104 is connected in parallel relation with each solenoid 54. The terminal strip 1s provided with a suitable ground Wire 105.

Upon insertion of a coin or coins in the mechanism 15, electrical current is supplied through the wires 78 and 92 to the motor control relay 41 for momentarily energizing its solenoid 91 to actuate its armature 93. The circuit is completed through the wire 90 and switch 96 of the latch relay 76 to the wire 77. At the same time, current is supplied to the contact finger 74 of the stepper relay 65 which has been set in engagement with one of the contact points 75, preferably point 1, to energize its solenoid 54A, retract its plunger 55 and unlatch its corresponding closure for opening movement. All except one of the compartments 28 of the magazine 29 are filled and this empty compartment registers with one of the closures or doors 17 of the access opening 16, being held in this position by the carriage 18 being locked against rotation by the engagement of the bar 58 of the locking device 57 with one of the keeper V 6 j admires; 59} n is new that; fh'esoifioi" r images energized due as the switch" 86b'ein'g field ciosetf By the normally-closed niicrjd s'witch' 44 so s 0 coin: ct the wires 84' and to the wire 92; cruauoao the" afmafture 93 moves contacts 94 and 95' into clo's g engage ment with the switches 82 and 86 to connect 81 and83 for operationof the motor 34" and eijrg i zation of the solenoid 62' of the locking device, whereby carriage is' unlocked and rotated to eve a full'maga ne compartment info registration withtlie unlatched losu rie'.

As has been explained, the" disk 42 rotates wrth' the mpto'rand arriage and enga ement of ori otclies 43fwith the micro switch" 4'4 momentarily epe switch to break the circuit tdthe solenoid de-energization of the solenoid retracts its a' so as to open the switches 82a'nd 86,

of the motor stops andth'e sol en r to} permit engagement of thej'l'o'ckmg bar 58 with of the kee er notches 59 for locking thecarriaga rotation. Due to the coasting of the meter, the continues to turn and' mov es' the notch the" microswitch so as to" permit reclining" of said switch is sequent operation of the-vending machinel The $61 noid 54A remains energized byfhe current supp red th ugh wires 80 and 81 and the"con'tact' finger 74, where corresponding closure is unlatched for openingiaad' moval of the article from there e'rin'g rfia'ga'z'ine cam;- partmentl This sehuence of operation? is" repeated until the carriage makes a completefevolution arid all o f" the compartments of one circumferential row, such as the top row, have been moved into registration with the unlatched closure.

The projection 68 strikes and momentarily closes the micro-switch 66 of the stepping relay 65 upon completion of the carriage revolution for closing the circuit to and energizing the solenoid 69 to actuate its armature 70 and turn its ratchet wheel 73. This actuation swings the contact finger from the contact point 1 to the point 2 so as to energize the solenoid 54B and d e-energize the solenoid 54A. As a result, the second closure is unlatched and the first closure is relatched or is latched upon closing movement. Due to the provision of the lights 104, the unlatched closure is indicated and is readily ascertainable. Manifestly, another circumferential row of compartments registers with the unlatched closure for vending articles upon subsequent operations. This continues until there have been sutficient revolutions to per-. mit emptying of all the magazine compartments. Upon emptying of the last compartment, the stepping relay 65 is actuated to swing its contact finger from the point 4 to the point 5 so as to energize the solenoid 99 of the latch relay 76 and release its latch 98. As a result, the lever of the switch 96 moves from the pole of wire to the pole of wire 97 to break the circuit to the relay 41 and prevent operation of the motor 34. Of course, the empty light 103 is illuminated and the contact finger may be reset upon refilling of the compartments by actuating the push-button 102 to energize the solenoid 101.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and ma terials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A vending machine including, a housing having a delivery opening, a carriage rotatably supported in the housing and having circumferential rows of compartments, drive means for imparting intermittent rotation to the carriage to successively revolve the compartments into registration with the delivery opening, individual closures for each circumferential row of compartments mounted in said opening, a latch for each closure, electro-magnetic means for each latch operable when energized to release the latch and permit opening of its closure, and means for energizing the electro-rnagnetic means in sequence and ,bpiableitipon the completion of each revolution of the carriage to' release one of the latches during one complete revolution of said carriage, the energizing means includdelivery opening, a carriage rotatably supported in the housing and having circumferential rows of compartments, drive means for imparting intermittent rotation to the carriage to successively revolve the compartments into 'r'egistration with the delivery opening, individual closures for each circumferential row of compartments mounted in said opening, a latch for each closure, electro-magnetic means for each latch operable when energizedjto' release the latch and permit opening of its closure, and means for energizing the electro-magnetic means in sequence and operable upon the completion of each revolution of the carriage to release one of the latches during one complete revolution of said carriage, each closure including a sliding door, and a pivoted lever bearing against the inner upright margin of each door and movable therewith for closing said door.

3. A vending machine including, a housing, a carriage rotatablymounted in the housing and having a plurality of compartments arranged in circumferential rows, said housing having an access opening communicating with at least one compartment of each circumferential row, in-

dividual sliding doors in the opening for each circumferential row of compartments, a pivoted lever bearing against the inner upright margin of each door and movable therewith for closing the door, drive means for imparting intermittent rotation to the carriage to move-said compartments successively into registration with said opening, latch means for each door, and means for releasing one of the latch means at a time to permit open ing of its door, the releasing means being actuated upon the completion of each revolution of said carriage, whereby one of said latch means is released during one complete revolution of said carriage and is re-engaged upon completion of said revolution and releasing of another latch means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,364,449 Norton Jan. 4, 1921 2,008,735 Weiler July 23, 1935 2,016,127 Weiler Oct. 1, 1935 2,104,497 Schulte Jan. 4, 1938 2,187,233 Garner Ian. 16, 1940 2,272,859 Wilsey Feb. 10, 1942 2,359,183 Wilsey Sept. 26, 1944 2,423,265 Stewart July 1, 1947 2,672,389 Gabrielsen Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 50,605 Denmark of 1935 

